Shoe trimming and finishing machine



Dec. 3, 1968 GIDGE ET AL 3,413,670

SHOE TRIMMING AND FINISHING MACHINE Filed June 30, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 i, 1 I y X" "-4 I Ll INVENTORS. Y /4 LESTER emcee a 6 BY BEN v. DARDIG ATTORNEY Dec. 3, 1968 310 5 ET AL 3,413,670

SHOE TRIMMING AND FINISHING MACHINE Filed June 30, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3

l 45 P l Z 47 M 5? 29 I 1 In: I 44 4'6 INVENTORS I LESTER GIDGE 8 BY BEN V. DARDIG ATTORNEY Dec. 3, 1968 GmGE ET AL 3,413,670

SHOE TRIMMING AND FINISHING MACHINE Filed June 50, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS. LESTER GIDGE 8 Y BEN V. DARDIG wi FWMM ATTORNEY Dec. 3, 1968 3 ET AL 3,413,670

SHOE TRIMMING AND FINISHING MACHINE Filed June 30, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 F/G. 77 7; 5 i s 74 I z "i a r r/ l INVENTORS.

LESTER GIDGE a Y BEN v. DARDIG ATTORNEY Dec. 3, 1968 L. GIDGE ET AL 3,413,670

SHOE TRIMMING AND FINISHING MACHINE Filed June 30, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS. LESTER GID 8 Y BEN V. DAR

WIH'M ATTORNEY nited States Patent 0 3,413,670 SHOE TRIMMING AND FINISHING MACHINE Lester Gidge, Nashua, N.H., and Ben V. Dardig, New

York, N.Y., assignors, by mesne assignments, to United Dynamics Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed June 30, 1965, Ser. No. 468,467 22 Claims. (Cl. 1287) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus is provided for trimming and finishing a shoe based by guiding the base against a rotating cutter and/or scouring surface using a template to which the shoe at the heel base is fastened, the fastening preferably employing snap-on male studs and female receptacles. A first guide surface is provided for the template. An additional guide surface is provided above the template against which is transversely pressed the joint between the shoe upper and the side edge of the outsole. Maneuvering the shoe against the two guide surfaces is imnroved by a floating table.

This invention relates to improved methods of trimming and finishing shoe heel bases and apparatus for carrying out said methods. In addition, this invention relates to an improved method of trimming or finishing the outside edge of the heel portion of the outsole and/or the rand thereof as well as trimming and finishing the heel base attached thereto.

This invention is directed to an improvement in the methods and apparatus described in US. Patents 3,172,- 136 and 3,235,894 of Dardig respectively. There is described and claimed in said Dardig patents methods and apparatus for trimming and finishing a shoe base by guiding the base against a rotating cutting and/ or scouring surface using a template to which the shoe at the heel base is fastened. The invention of said Dardig patents is most advantageously applied when the base is provided with coupling means for attaching and detaching the heel thereto. Such coupling means are well known in the art and the most advantageous and acceptable embodiment of these is described and claimed in the Dardig patent, US. 2,932,099, patented Apr. 12, 1960. Broadly, this coupling means involves snap-on lock comprising a male stud and female receptacle where the stud is located on the heel base and the receptacle is provided in the heel.

The process and apparatus of said Dardig Patents 3,172,136 and 3,235,894 have been found to possess certain unforeseeable limitations. When they are applied in the trimming and finishing of a broad spectrum of shoes, manufactured in the conventional manner, considerable difiiculty has been encountered due to the inability in shoe manufacturing to continuously align the center line of the stud plate with the center line of the heel counter. In accordance with the practices of the inventions of the Dardig Patents 3,172,136 and 3,235,894, the rought cut heel portion of the outsole and the heel base fastened thereto are both trimmed at their outer portions essentially vertically according to a template which corresponds to the shape and size of the heel which is to be fastened to the heel base. If the shape of the heel counter of the shoe upper varies and the coupling means fastened to the heel base are not properly centered, then upon trimming the outsole and heel base unit, one finds that the unit is not properly centered relative to the counter. This is manifested in the fact that the rand extension on the outsole noticeably varies in width. However, if one trims the heel base and outsole according to the shape and dimensions of the heel counter, there will be obtained a 3,413,670 Patented Dec. 3, 1968 uniform rand extension but the heel will not fit properly on the heel base. Thus. the trimming and scouring method and apparatus of the previous applications are most effective in achieving the desired action, but they have not been proven successful in providing a heel seat finishing system properly oriented to matching both the shoe upper and detachable heel.

This invention relates to improvements of the methods and apparatus described in Dardig Patents 3,172,136 and 3,235,894 for trimming and scouring the heel base and shoe outsole at about the heel portion of the shoe so that the detachable heel fits the heel base and the rand extension about the heel portion of the shoe possesses an essentially uniform width and from the outside corner edge of the rand extension to the bottom outside corner edge of the heel base, said outsole and heel base, at points contiguous to each other, possess a common straight line edge.

This is accomplished by trimming and/0r scouring a shoe possessing a heel base, preferably both an outsole and heel base attached together, by fixing to the heel base a detachable template which corresponds to the shape of a heel to be attached to the heel base. The template is then guided on a guide surface located at one end of a rotating trimmer or scourer While the lower portion of the heel counter of the shoe is simultaneously guided on a separate and spaced guide surface located at another end of the trimmer or scourer whereby the side edge of said outsole and said :heel base are between said separate and spaced guide surfaces. Contact is made between the side edge of the outsole and heel base, and the trimmer or scourer, and the outsole and heel base are removed from contact with the trimmer or scourer after the desired trimming or scouring is accomplished.

In other words, the process of this invention employs the use of a guiding surface against which a template rides as is described in said Dardig Patents 3,172,136 and 3,235,894 which template conforms to the shape of the heel to be attached to the base. The added feature of this invention resides in the simultaneous guiding of the shoe upper at a lower portion of its heel counter while the attached outsole and heel base are made to contact the trimming and/ or scouring means. As a result. the shoe upper tilts, rises, and turns during said trimming and/ or scouring action in accordance with the dimension and shape of both its heel counter and the template. Because the trimming and scouring of the heel base is still controlled by the dimensions of the template, the shape and dimension of the bottom surface of the heel base is essentially the same as that of the heel designed for use with that heel base. In other words, the shoe upper with its outsole and heel base floats during the cutting action according to the dimensions and shape of the heel counter so that the rand extension has essentially a uniform width and the area of the bottom surface of the heel base corresponds with the dimensions established by the template employed.

In accordance with the process of said Dardig Patents 3,172,136 and 3,235,894, trimming and/or scouring of the edge surface of the outsole and heel base is effected vertically and, therefore, said trimming and/ or scouring is achieved independent of the shape of the heel counter and the width of the rand extension. The only guiding surface employed in the operation of the process and apparatus of said copending applications is that surface against which the template makes contact. In the process of this invention, the outsole and heel base attached thereto are typically guided across the trimmer or scourer surface by virtue of employment of two segments of the apparatus, to wit, a guide surface above the trimmer or scourer and a guide surface below the trimmer or scourer.

The ability to achieve the results of this invention is dependent upon the ability to maintain control of the shoe upper during trimming and/ or scouring operation so that the shoe upper with the outsole and heel base attached thereto is uniformly and carefully applied against the guiding surfaces. This determines the manner and the extent of trimming and/or scouring. To this extent, applicant has devised an improved apparatus which possesses as unique features the following:

(1) guiding surfaces located above and below a trimming and/ or scouring means;

(2) a floating table upon which said shoe upper, attached to a template, is able to ride during the trimming and/ or scouring operation;

(3) a template moving mechanism for driving said 'heel portion of the outsole and the heel base across the trimming and/or scouring means to effect the desired trimming and/or scouring of the outsole and heel base at the heel portion of the shoe while simultaneously forcing the heel counter and template against the aforementioned guiding surfaces; and

(4) a template holding mechanism to maintain said template while it is moving on said floating table.

In order to describe this invention in detail, recourse is made to the drawings which serve to illustrate various operative embodiments of this invention but to which this invention is not restricted.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective characterization of a trimming and scouring machine falling within the terms of this invention.

FIGURE 2 illustrates a side view of the machine of FIGURE 1 along lines 2-2.

FIGURE 3 shows a cross-sectional view along the lines 3-3 of an adjustable lower guide surface.

FIGURE 4 depicts a top view of the adjustable lower guide of FIGURE 3 without the presence of a trimmer.

FIGURES 5 and 6 represent fragmentary side views of movable tables and cutting elements which can be employed in box B of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 7 characterizes a top view of the upper guide cover of the cutting mechanisms described in FIGURES 5 and 6, specifically illustrating a flared extension thereon.

FIGURE 8 illustrates a top view of the manner in which the template is guided across one of the guiding surfaces.

FIGURE 9 shows a bottom view of the template described in FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of the manner in which the template rides against the lower guiding surface associated with the trimmer.

FIGURE 11 is a side view characterization of the manner in which a shoe upper secured to an outsole and heel base is attached to a template and therewith guided against the trimmer assembly.

FIGURES 12 and 13 illustrate optional mechanisms to provide table 3 with both a pivoting and up and down motion.

FIGURE 14 is a side view of a stopping mechanism employed to control the degree of pivot of table 3 as it is characterized in FIGURES 1, 2 and 12.

FIGURE 15 illustrates a top view of a trimmer means (cutter) suitable in the practice of this invention.

FIGURE 16 illustrates a top view of a trimmer means similar to that of FIGURE 15 and a rand cutter associated therewith.

FIGURE 17 illustrates a cross-sectional side view of a trimmer assembly employable in the practice of this invention.

FIGURE 18 illustrates a top view of a support and adjusting mechanism for the trimmer assembly described in FIGURE 17.

FIGURE 19 shows a perspective view of a rotatable drum suitable for use in the scouring operation.

FIGURE 20 illustrates a fragmentary cross-sectional side View of the drum illustrated in FIGURE 19.

FIGURE 21 shows a cross-sectional side view of the drum of FIGURE 19 along lines 2121 thereof coupled with a cross-sectional view of a guide cover associated with said drum taken along lines 21-21 of FIGURE 22.

FIGURE 22 illustrates a top view of the drum and guide cover assembly of FIGURE 21 coupled to an adjustable support mechanism.

FIGURE 23 shows a plan view of a drive assembly for both the trimmer and scourer means.

FIGURE 24 illustrates an underside view of the pivotal table showing a drive mechanism for pinion gears associated therewith and a release mechanism for said gears.

In the drawings, there is shown a trimming and scouring machine A embodied by this invention and suitable for the practice of the process of this invention. Machine A contains machine housing 1 which has suitably aflixed thereto housing cover 2. Circumscribing cover 2 is pivotal table 3 and pivotal arm 4. Table 3 is connected to arm 4 by a pin and bearing 50 (e.g., a ball bearing), where the bearing is part of arm 4. Located on cover 2 and juxtaposed to table 3 are trimming assembly 5 and scouring assembly 6. On table 3, juxtaposed to the trimmer and scourer of assemblies 5 and 6, respectively, are two pinion gears 7 driven by motor 17 secured to the side of housing 1. Arm 4 rotates about axis 16 fixed to cover 2 through suitable bearing means, e.g., ball bearings.

Located on table 3 are magnetized zones 9, magnetized through suitable magnets 8. Magnetized zones 9 serve to hold rack 33 on table 3. Located at one side of housing 1 is tension lever 10 suitably aflixed through tension spring 14 to the side of housing 1. Connecting lever 10 to another position on arm 4 located at a point to the forward end of machine A is connecting rod 11. Ballasting spring 13 (e.g., a negator spring motor) is affixed to tension lever 10 on essentially the longitudinal plane of ballast rod 12. Ballast rod 12 extends from table 3 and is connected to ballasting spring 13 so that spring 13 maintains ballast rod 12 on a predetermined keel which, in turn, because it is affixed to table 3, maintains table 3 at a constant position when no pressure is applied to either upper or bottom surface of table 3. At the front of housing 1 is electric switch 15 connected by wiring (not shown) to motor 19 located in the interior of housing 1. Motor 19 directly drives a sprocket attached thereto by a shaft and, in turn, drives link chain 24 whereby to rotate sprockets 25 and 25a (see FIGURE 23) which in turn drive trimmer 30 and scourer drum 100. Instead of a chain and sprockets, a belt and pulley system can be employed.

Aflixed to arm 4 and extending therebelow is adjustable travel limit 22 containing limiting screws 23. Extending between the ends of screws 23, i.e., the open space between said screws, is ballast rod 12. Adjustable travel limit 22 serves to define the pivoting limits of table 3.

Foot switch 18 is connected to electrical connecting box 20 which in turn is connected to motor 17. Upon depression of foot switch 18, motor 17 is started thereby causing rotation of pinion gears 7 (see FIGURE 24).

Section B illustrated in FIGURE 2 is more graphically illustrated in FIGURES 3 through 13.

In a most favored embodiment in the practice of this invention, the rotating or pivoting axis of table 3 is essentially aligned with the principal contact point of template 31 as it is guided across the lower guiding surface of either one of the trimmer or scourer means. This is illustrated in FIGURES 5, 6, and 11 by hatched line CC. It has been found that only when the axis of table 3 corresponds to the pivotal axis of the template against the lower guide surface that the desired cutting and/0r scouring of the outsole and heel base is achieved. Resting above trimmer 30 is guide cover 28 which possesses (as more specifically shown in FIGURES 7 and 18) a flared extension. The flared extension rides upon the rand extension of the outsole and assists in the trimming action. The flared extension typically possesses a slight upward tilt on its furtherest extremity from the sloping guiding surface of cover 28 in order to prevent snagging and catching on the welt extension as the flared extension travels over the rand extension. The guide cover 110 associated with the scouring means may also employ such a flared extension. Illustrating a further preferred embodiment of this invention, there is shown in FIGURES l, 2, 3 and 4 swing bar 44 attached at both ends to arm 4 by extension bar 44 to which is fastened plate 45 holding lower guide surface 29. Upon pivoting of arm 4, lower guide surface 29 is likewise raised or lowered so that the distance between guide surfaces 29 and 28 can be enlarged or reduced depending upon thickness of the heel base 42 and 41 (see FIGURE 11) of the particular shoe style being trimmed. In this fashion, the floating table also adjusts the distance between the guide surfaces. Trimmer 30 extends above the upper level of guide 29, above guide lip 29a, to about the lower level of upper guide cover 28 (see FIGURE 5).

Plate 48 is secured to swing bar 44 by threaded bolts 47 and 49. Plate 48 can be swung forward and rearward by loosening bolts 47 and 49 and moving plate 48 through slot 59. In this fashion lower guide surface 29 can be moved forward or rearward for adjustment of the trimming action. Lower guide surface 29 is fastened to plate 48 by screws 46 extending through surface base plate 69. Extending through base plate 69 and plate 45 is hole 68 for the shaft connecting trimmer 30 with sprocket 25.

The same mechanism is preferred for the scourer and is constructed in the same manner.

FIGURE 5 employs a stationary lower guide surface 29 which is directly fastened to cover 2. In FIGURE 6, where guide surface 29 is stationary also, bushing 27 is located below trimmer 30 and guide surface 29 for the purpose of spacing guide surface 29 and trimmer 30 above housing cover 2 so that table 3 can be inserted within the space between guide 29 and cover 2 without making contact with either. Suitably provided below table 3 is mounting bosses 26 for magnets 8.

As shown in FIGURES 8, 9, and 11, template 31 containing socket elements 32 therein is bonded, typically by welding, to U-shaped rack 33. Rack 33 with template 31 attached thereto is wedged between lower guide surface 119 and rotating pinion gear 7 so that the teeth of rack 33 and gear 7 are meshed. Since pinion gear 7 is juxtaposed to lower guide surface 29 and rack 33 is wedged therebetween, the upper peripheral edge of template 31 rides against wall and the bottom surface of the protruding upper lip of guide surface 29 aligned along line CC. As a result, gear 7 carries rack 33 from one end of its U-shape to the other end and the total outer peripheral edge of template 31 rides along with rack 33 while maintaining contact with lower guide surface 29. Preferably pinion gear 7 is forced towards guide surface 29 by pressure so that template 31 makes firm contact with guide surface 29.

As shown in FIGURE 11, shoe upper 40 with outsole 41 and heel base 42 containing stud fasteners aflixed thereto is locked into template 31 by mating the studs with sockets 32 and is carried by virtue of the pinion 7 rack 33 operation against the upper and lower guiding surface 28 and 29, respectively, so that the edges of outsole 41 and heel base 42 make contact with trimmer 30. The lower outer surface of the upper 40 at point 43 rides against the guiding surface of upper guide cover 28 while the rand extension of outsole 41 rides underneath and within the area below guide cover 28. As mentioned above, heel base 42 possesses studs complementary to sockets 32 so that the heel base is snapped into locking position onto template 31.

As template 31 is driven on guide surface 29 by the rack and pinion gear, shoe upper 40, outsole 41 and heel base 42 are simultaneously guided with the same motion. In addition, shoe upper 40 concurrently makes direct contact with guide cover 28 at point 43. As a result, the rand extension possesses an essentially uniform width which conforms to the shape of the heel counter of the shoe upper while the bottom peripheral edge of heel base 42 possesses a dimension corresponding to the shape of template 31, though not necessarily possessing the exact dimensions of template 31. The resulting trimmed edge of. outsole 41 and heel base 42 is a uniform, smooth surface.

As specifically described in FIGURE 11, pin defined along line C-C is the pivoting axis for table 3. Pin 50 is represented by a pin-ball bearing connection to pivotal arm 4. By pivoting arm 4 at axis 16 while maintaining arm 4 under tension through spring 14, table 3 is provided with a floating action so that under pressure it moves up and down and rotates according to the pressure applied .to its surface. As a result, a shoe upper atfixed to a templaterack arrangement and carried against the guide surfaces of the trimmer and/or scourer floats according to the nature of the shape of the shoe upper and the dimension and shape of the template. In this manner, the shoe constantly adjusts during the trimming or scouring action to the desired angle of trimming and scouring to achieve a uniform looking rand extension while the size of the heel base conforms to the size of the heel which is to be attached thereto. In addition to the above, by employing the embodiment of FIGURES 3 and 4, lower guide surface 29 raises or lowers according to the thickness of the outsole and heel base and thus, by applying sufficient pressure on table 3, the opening between the guide surfaces adjusts to receive the edge to be trimmed or scoured.

FIGURES l2 and 13 illustrate alternative mechanisms for effecting the desired floating action, but without guide surface space adjustment. In FIGURE 12, pin 50a is fitted in slot 52 to achieve a slot and pin connection. Pin 50a is secured to rigid arm 4 (not pivotally mounted on axis 16) by spring 51 so that when pressure is exerted on table 3, spring 51 is stretched. Ballasting rod 12 which extends from table 3 is secured to ballasting spring 13 (not shown in FIGURE 12). The mechanism of FIGURE 12 achieves the same type of floating action noted previously but, however, the floating mechanism of FIGURES 1 and 2 is eminently preferred.

FIGURE 13 shows a further alternative floating mechanism which comprises a rigid arm 4 (same structure as pivotal arm 4 without axis 16) which has aflixed to it a yoked-pin connection comprising pin 50b and slot 53. In contact with pin 50b is depression rod 54 fitting into plunger 55, which rests on and depresses spring 56. Extending from the yoke to table 3 is pin connected bar 58 held under tension by spring 57. When table 3 in FIGURE 13 is pushed down, pin 50b depresses rod 54 and plunger 55 into spring 56. When table 3 is pivoted at the axis defined by pin 50b, bar 58 is bent and spring 57 is stretched. Thus a shoe, riding against guides 28 and 29, may be raised, lowered and/or pivoted, and table 3 will respond by rising, lowering and pivoting. As a result, the shoe upper and template are constantly pressed against the upper and lower guiding surfaces respectively.

The trimmer may take a variety of shapes. An illustrative trimmer is described in FIGURE 15. It comprises block 60 to which is aflixed cutting blades 61 possessing cutting edges. The cutting edges face in the direction of rotation.

FIGURE 16 also describes block 60 containing cutting blades 61 circumscribed about block 60 and facing the direction of rotation. At the top surface of block 60 is mounting recess 63 possessing diverging sides converging to parallel sides 67. In said recess, 63 but spaced slightly from its bottom surface is rand extension cutter 62 (of the dato type) possessing chisel-like cutting edges at both ends, likewise facing into the direction of rotation. Though FIGURE 16, shows cutter 62 with only two (2) cutting edges, it could be designed with more than two (2) edges, such as four to ten edges. Moreover, the cutting edges may be of a different design other than chisellike, and may possess an open V-shape and the like styled cutting edge. In the interior and enlarged (and circular) portion of cutter '62 are located holes 66 provided for the purpose of balancing cutter 62 during use. The size and locations of holes 66 are selected for the purpose of balancing cutter 62 during the cutting operation because of the weight difference between arm 64 and the remainder of the cutter. Also within the enlarged portion is hole 65 provided for the purpose of reciving a rod for stationing cutter 62 in mounting recess 63. Part of the outer periphery of the enlarged portion is in direct contact and wedged against parallel sides 67 for the purpose of preventing sliding of the cutter during use.

FIGURE 17 illustrates a cross sectional view of the trimmer and cutter of FIGURE 16 taken along line 1717 and in addition it shows a cross-sectional view of a guiding cover associated with the rand trimmer and cutter.

In FIGURE 17, block 60 possesses cutting blades 61 and rand cutter 62 set in recess 63. In block 60 below recess 63 is bolt recess 81. Extending from bolt recess 81 up through hole 65 and terminating at the top surface of bearing 77 (which can be a ball bearing) is rod 71 threaded through its interior. Screwed into rod 71 is bolt 72, the head of which is spaced out of contact with all surfaces but the surface of cutter 64. Extending through a hollow core of block 60 is drive rod 83 terminating at pulley 25 to eflFect direct drive of the trimmer. Rod 83 is threaded through its interior and is held therein by bolt 80 tightened to make pressure contact with the bottom of recess 81.

The head of bolt 72 is small enough so that it can be moved in anydirection about recess 81 for distances of up to about /2 an inch. Rod 71 terminates at the upper surface of bearing 77 and is secured thereat by bolt 73.

The trimmer of FIGURE 17 is housed below guide cover 70 whose upper cylindrical portion located above its sloped guide surface rises almost vertically to terminate at about the upper surface of bearing 77. Interior of the vertical section of cover guide 70 is bearing 78 (also a ball bearing) separated from bearing 77 by cylindrical spacer 76. Circumscribing the upper portion of cover 70 is spring 74 comprising a tensioning ring fitted in a recess. The ring serves to prevent slippage of cover 70. Circumscribing a segment of the upper portion of cover 70 is adjustable plate 75 which, as shown in FIGURE 18, is fastened to cover 70 by Allen head screw 90. Shown in FIGURE 18 is flared extension 79 which is equivalent to the flared extension on cover 28 of FIGURE 7. Adjustable plate 75 contains slot 92 resting upon metal block 91 which in turn is Welded to cover 2. Extending from block 91 through slot 92 are two spaced screws held in position by nuts 93 and 94. Plate 75 may be slid forwards or backwards by loosening nuts 93 and 94 and adjusting screw 95 which abuts against block 91. When proper positioning is affected, nuts 93 and 94 are tightened to hold plate 75, and the assembly to which it is fastened, in a stationary position.

It can be appreciated from FIGURES 16, 17, and 18 that upon movement of plate 75 forward, cutter 62 is also moved forward, the amount of movement being lim ited by the sizes of bolt 72 and recess 81. In this manner, it is possible to advance the rand extension cutter forward for the purpose of effecting more angular and/ or deeper cutting of the rand extension or move it backwards to effect less severe cutting of the rand extension. Rotation of cutter 62 is effected by the direct contact of the circular enlarged portion thereof with sides 67 of mounting recess 63. The bevel of the rand extension depends upon the angle of the cutting edge contacting the rand extension. Thus it is possible to 'trim the rand extension in any desired manner to fit any style of shoe.

Illustrated in FIGURES 19, 20, 21 and 22 are the elements of the scouring mechanism. The scouring mechanism is associated with the sanding belt and idler roller 21 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 19 shows rotatable drum 100 possessing a hollow core through which extends internally threaded sleeve 103 into which bolt 102 is securely locked. Sleeve 103 terminates through axle 109 in pulley 25a for direct drive of drum 100. Sleeve 103 is fitted with slotted key 105 which fiushly fits in a slotted portion of the aforementioned core whereby to lock sleeve 103 and drum 100 together. Terminating below drum 100 is support washer 108.

In the preferred embodiments, drum 100 is composed of three essential parts, to wit, section 107 which is a cylindrical drum with an L shaped flange resting below section 101. Section 101 is a frictional surface, typically made of hard rubber such as a fiber-filled rubber composition. Preferably, section 101 contains a plurality of superimposed fiber-filled hard rubber rings each rested upon the other or a strip of cured rubber. The upper portion of section 107 is threaded at 104 so that annular ring 106, which is complementally threaded, may be screwed thereon. In the usual instance, the side surface of drum 100 is uniform. Cover guide 110 encloses the upper portion of drum 100. Typically, cover guide 110 possesses circular opening 123 through which protrudes bolt 102. Forked adjustable fastener is aflixed to cover 110 by threaded bolts 121 and 122. Guide cover 110 is provided with a flared extension to assist the scouring operations.

Fastener 120 possesses slot 134 and is affixed to block 132 (which in turn is welded to cover 2) by bolts and 131. Adjustment of fastener 120 is effected by loosening threaded bolts 130 and 131 and turning adjusting screw 133 depending on the direction desired. In this manner, it is possible to place the shoe upper closer or further away from the scouring surface by moving fastener 120 forwards or backwards which, in turn, similarly moves guiding cover 110. circumscribed around about /2 of drum 100 is a sanding belt which also loops about idler roller 21 (see FIGURE 1). Idler roller 21 may be fitted with tilting means of the conventional type for the purpose of belt tracking.

FIGURE 24 illustrates drive mechanisms for pinion gears 7 on table 3. FIGURE 24 illustrates the bottom view of table 3 and shows, in addition, a lever release mechanism for the pinion gears. Such pinion gears are stationed with suitable bearings in bars 156 and 157 and. preferably, protrude through the upper surface of table 3 through a slot having dimensions exceeding the diameter of each pinion gear 7. Each slot has a larger dimension aligned in the direction of bars 166 and 167. The pinion gears 7 are driven by motor 17 through sprocket which in turn drives endless chain 151 about a pinion sprocket (not shown). Below this pinion sprocket is second pinion sprocket 152 which drives sprocket chain 153 about pinion sprocket 154. Located between sprockets 152 and 154 is tension idler 155. Bars 156 and 157 are secured to sliding sleeves 158 and 159, and 160 and 161. respectively. Sleeves 158, 159, 160 and 161 circumscribe pipes 162, 163, 164 and 165. Bar 156 is fastened to pipe 166. Between said juncture and the side ledge of table 3 and extends through a hole in the curve part of a handle formed by joining pipes 162 and 163. Pipe 166 is circumscribed at the terminus protruding from the juncture of pipes 162 and 163 by lever 172, which in turn is secured by nut fastened to the threaded end of pipe 116. Between said juncture and the side ledge of table 3 is tensioning spring 168. Cylindrical bar 167 is similarly secured in the manner described for bar 166 by nut 171 and possesses lever 173 and tension spring 169, each situated as is lever 172 and spring 168, respectively. When levers 172 or 173 are pulled, pressure is exerted on nuts 170 and 171, respectively, so that pipes 168 and 169 respectively are pulled in the direction of nuts 170 and 171, respectively. Since pinions 7, in this embodiment. are arranged in slots in table 3, bars 156 and 157 are pulled in the same direction thereby moving pinions 7 away from the lower guide surface of the trimming and/ or scouring assemblies. This relieves pressure on rack 33 so that during the trimming and/or scouring operation, the shoe upper and template-rack arrangement can be readily withdrawn and the trimming and scouring action can be stopped temporarily.

It is to be appreciated that the above description and the drawings relate to preferred embodiments of this invention and that obvious mechanical equivalents thereto may be suitably employed in place thereof. For example, instead of a magnet to hold the rack in stationary position during the trimming or scouring operation, one might employ a pin connected to rack 33 which extends through a curved slot in table 3 and thereby prevents undesirable movements during the trimming and scourin operations.

Instead of employing a scouring mechanism it is possible to simultaneously effect trimming and scouring by employing a finely honed cutting edge which accomplishes the dual result in one operation. However, as a rule such technique does not provide the results attainable from the joint and separate action of trimming and scouring.

Alternatively, instead of trimming and/ or scouring the heel section of a shoe while the shoe is on a floating table,

the trimmer and scouring assemblies can be made to float by the same principles applied above to table 3 and arm 4, and the shoe can be kept in a stationary position except that it can be moved about with the same pinion-rack system.

The above is not intended to act in any manner to limit the scope of this invenion except to the extent provided by the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for trimming a heel base secured to a shoe upper which comprises a trimming means; spaced guiding surfaces, one of which is located at one end of said trimming means and another of which is located at another end of said trimming means; said spaced guiding surfaces being associated with said trimming means whereby a shoe upper possessing an outsole and a heel base attached thereto and a detachable template secured to said heel base is trimmed at said outsole and heel base by guiding the heel counter of said shoe upper transversely against one of said guide surfaces and guiding said template on the other of said guide surfaces such that said outsole and heel base are between said guide surfaces and in contact with said trimming means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said trimming means is a rotating trimming means.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said shoe upper possessing an outsole and heel base attached thereto is fixed through said heel base to a detachable template which, in turn, is detachably fixed to a floating table.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said table magnetically holds said template.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein one of said guide surfaces rises and lowers with said table.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein there are means for raising, lowering and pivoting said table.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said table is connected at its ends to commonly axially arranged pivoting means which in turn are connected to pivoting arms which pivot on a common axis spaced from the pivoting means of said table.

8. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said table possesses a motor driven pinion gear juxtaposed to said trimming means and said template is secured to a curved rack which travels about said pinion.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein one of said spaced guiding surfaces is located about the upper portion of the trimming means and another guiding surface is located about the lower portion of the trimming means and said template is in contact with one of said guiding surfaces as a result of the position of said rack while engaged with said pinion gear.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said floating table is connected at its ends to commonly axially arranged pivoting means and the axis of said pivoting means is essentially in the same plane as the point of contact between the template and the guiding surface.

11. An apparatus for scouring a heel base secured to a shoe upper which comprises a scouring means; spaced guiding surfaces, one of which is located at one end of said scourin means and another of which is located at another end of said scouring means; said spaced guiding surfaces being associated with said scouring means whereby a shoe upper possessing an outsole and a heel base attached thereto and a detachable template secured to said heel base is scoured at said outsole and heel base by guiding the heel counter of said shoe upper transversely against one of said guide surfaces and guiding said template on the other of said guide surfaces such that said outsole and heel base is between said guide surfaces and in contact with said scouring means.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said scouring means is a rotating scouring means.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said shoe upper possessing an outsole and heel base attached thereto is fixed through said heel base to a detachable template which, in turn, is detachably fixed to a floating table.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein there are means for raising, lowering and pivoting said table.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein one of said guide surfaces rises and lowers with said table.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said table is connected at its ends to commonly axially arranged pivoting means which in turn are connected to pivoting arms which pivot on a common axis spaced from the pivoting means of said table.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said table possesses a motor driven pinion gear juxtaposed to said triniming means and said template is secured to a curved rack which travels about said pinion.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein one of said spaced guiding surfaces is located about the upper portion of the scouring means and another guiding surface is located about the lower portion of the scouring means and said template is in contact with one of said guiding surfaces as a result of the position of said rack while engaged with said pinion gear.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of said guiding surfaces is adjustable.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the adjustable guiding surfaces is about the upper portion of the trimming means and possesses a rand extension cutter therein, which cutter is mounted to the trimming means.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the cutter revolves in synchronization with the trimming means.

22. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the guiding surface about the upper portion of the trimming means possesses a flared extension therefrom.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,248,971 12/1917 Winkley 1287 2,359,395 10/1944 Stacey 1286.7 2,644,968 7/1953 Benedict et al 12-87 3,172,136 3/1965 Dardig 12-147 3,235,894 2/1966 Dardig 12-87 2,151,875 3/1939 Sona l2147 2,223,121 11/1940 Musebeck 12147 2,692,399 10/1954 Smith 12-88 3,172,136 3/1965 Dardig 12-147 PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner. 

